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The Ultimate Decision for the Residential Customer: R-22 or R-410A?

By: Claudia Osorio

For several decades, R-22 has been the go-to refrigerant for the majority of the air conditioning industry. However, as most industry insiders and homeowners know, R-22 has become the topic of a heated debate around the globe. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, releasing R-22 in any form (e.g. leaks) results in the depletion of the ozone and since it’s a greenhouse gas, the manufacturing of this refrigerant creates a by-product known as HFC-23, which contributes significantly to global warming.

An agreement has been put in place to slowly begin phasing out the use of R-22 by the year 2020 in central A/C systems and heat pumps. No need to fret, though! An EPA acceptable substitute is R-410A, which does not deplete the ozone. However, R-410A does contribute to global warming. Various factors go into determining what is not harmful for humans and the environment, but as more alternative refrigerants are introduced, prices are steadily increasing for the use of R-22. This makes R-410A an agreeable choice when deciding what sort of ozone-friendly equipment to install in your home or business.

Here’s the bottom line: As the HVAC industry begins to slowly transition more towards R-410A in the coming years, you can expect to see a significant change in the efficiency of your system (and maybe your wallet, too!). Champion Forest A/C & Heating technicians are well-equipped to answer all of your questions concerning this phase-out and transition.